Philadelphia Eagles' Jordan Mailata Gets Best Birthday Gift By Signing Big Contract Extension

Philadelphia Eagles Jordan Mailata turned 27 just four days before earning his third contract from the team that took a flyer on him in the seventh round of the 2018 draft

Oct 22, 2023; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; Philadelphia Eagles offensive tackle Jordan Mailata / Eric Hartline-USA TODAY Sports

PHILADELPHIA – He had to wait a few extra days for what is likely the best birthday present he ever received, but that extra time was so worth it for Jordan Mailata.

The Philadelphia Eagles left tackle signed a three-year, $66 million contract extension that came with a hefty $20M signing bonus. The check may have come with a note from general manager Howie Roseman that read, “Happy 27th birthday to the best seventh-round draft choice I ever made, perhaps the best one any GM before me ever made.”

He turned 27 just four days before the extension.

The $22M average annual pay trails only Laremy Tunsil, Trent Williams, and Andrew Thomas for the highest-paid offensive tackles, and, just like that, the left side of the Eagles’ line is now signed, sealed, and delivered through 2028, unless Dickerson eventually moves to center.

Dec 31, 2023; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; Philadelphia Eagles offensive tackle Jordan Mailata. / Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports

Mailata and Dickerson are best friends, with Mailata having served as Dickerson’s best man at his wedding last year. Now the two men, who only just met when Dickerson was selected in the second round of the NFL Draft three years ago, can allow that relationship to continue to thrive while anchoring Philly’s O-line for years to come.

The extension saves the Eagles about $400,000 on the salary cap.

This is the third contract Mailata will have received from the Eagles. He signed his standard four-year rookie deal, received a four-year, $64M extension in 2021, and now this latest deal.

Mailata arrived in the seventh round of the 2018 draft as a flyer the Eagles took on him based on the advice of offensive line coach Jeff Stoutland.

Stoutland was about to leave for a golf vacation with some friends when Roseman called him and asked him to go check on a 6-8, 365-pound rugby player who was trying to transition to the NFL.

"I went and worked him out and I was like, wow!” said Stoutland. “I couldn’t believe it. Just a big person like that could move and change direction and I was so happy that we did that. I felt like this guy, the sky’s the limit. I really did. That was my report when I came back. I just felt like the guy could be special.”

Give Roseman credit this offseason, he has identified the potential cornerstone pieces on this team and has not been shy about handing out lucrative contracts this offseason.

In addition to the deal for Mailata, Dickerson’s four-year contract is for $84M.

The others:

Running back Saquon Barkley: 3 years, $37.75M

Defensive end Bryce Huff: 3 years, $51.1M

Defensive back Chauncey Gardner-Johnson: 3 years, $27M

Still to come, receiver DeVonta Smith.

The Eagles still control Smith for at least one more year, through 2024, and own a team option for 2025, but the sooner the Eagles commit to their first-round pick from 2021, the better for everyone.